Read the comments and put them away for a few days. You
need to respond when you are calm.
It is usually not a good idea to get into a argument
with the reviewer. The odds of you winning this argument is extremely small.
Make a comprehensive attempt to
resolve the major criticisms. Use the review process to make your paper
better.
If you think the reviewer has misunderstood some
part, ask yourself why
this might have happened. Rewrite this part so that other readers will not make the same
mistake.
After making the changes, write a response to the reviewers comments
Address each and every point.
Emphasize the changes you have made.
Explain any misunderstanding in a polite way and how you
have made sure that such a misunderstanding will not reoccur.
Admit where you were wrong and how you have corrected this.
Dealing with rejections:
Wait a while until you have calmed down.
List the main reasons for rejection.
Plan how to deal with each one.
Decide whether to resubmit to the same journal or to select
another. Often another, with a new set of reviewers, is the better choice.
If you send it to a different journal, revise it so that it matches this
journal's different focus, audience, and format.